Kuczo to step down from FCIAC spot in 2016

By BOB BIRGEHour Correspondent

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, January 6, 2015

John Kuczo, who has been involved with the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference for all 54 years of its existence, knew that he would eventually have to step aside as executive secretary and that day is approaching.

The FCIAC on Monday posted a notice on its website that it is seeking to fill the position of executive secretary, though Kuczo isn't leaving just yet.

The plan is for him to stay onboard until June 30, 2016 and help in the transition process.

The position becomes effective on a part-time basis on July 1, 2015 with the new hire working with Kuczo for a year before taking over on a full-time basis on July 1, 2016.

Kuczo, who will receive a Gold Key at the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance dinner on April 26, began his association with the FCIAC as a 23-year-old coach in 1961.

"I've thought about it for a long time," Kuczo said. "It'll be 48 years (as an FCIAC league administrator) and I think 48 years is enough.

"I would just like to see someone take over that will continue the league as we've set it up. I'm not emotionally drained or anything like that. I think it's time to go, that's all."

FCIAC president Mike King said Kuczo, who is in his 37th season as the FCIAC's executive secretary, began discussing a succession plan with a few league officials over the summer.

"The idea is we're going to try to hire his replacement this year to begin July 1 so there's a year overlap so that John can train him," King said.

Under Kuczo's watch, the FCIAC grew to 19 schools (though Harding and Bassick are leaving after this season), expanded its playoffs, brought girls sports into the fold in 1974 and quadrupled its financial fund.

"It's going to be a different look to the FCIAC (without Kuczo), that's for sure," King said. "We are well aware the void this is going to leave, which is why we came up with the design we did to have John have that year to really break that (new) person in and give him a real thorough understanding of what the job entails."

The FCIAC will be accepting applications until Feb. 27, when a committee will begin interviewing the top candidates.

Kuczo said the league hopes to have a successor in place by the middle of March and that person will be presented to the league's board of directors at their regular meeting in mid-May.

King said he had "no idea" how many candidates will apply for the job, but Kuczo is confident the league will find a qualified individual to carry on the tradition of the league.

According to the job posting, applicants must have experience as a coach and athletic director along with strong leadership skills.

"I'm sure there's someone out there," Kuczo said. "I know there are several people we're hoping will apply that can do it, but they have to be retired.

"It's part-time, however it's something you almost have to work full time at."

Kuczo puts countless hours into the job and King knows the end of an era is nearing for the FCIAC.

"I always feel if I go to John with a question or a problem, I'm going to get a great answer because he's been through everything," King said.

"He's seen everything and he's knows everything possible about the league and you're very comfortable that whatever he tells you is accurate and the right direction to go in."

Once he retires, Kuczo said he plans to play more golf and spend winters in Florida, where he has owned a home since 1979.

Through the 2014 fall sports season, FCIAC schools had produced 928 state championship teams, more than any other conference in the state. There have also been 438 state runner-up teams for a total of 1,363 top-two state finishes, also a record.

Kuczo accounted for some of those state titles and runner-up finishes himself as a coach at Rippowam High School in Stamford, where he established the Warriors as an FCIAC and state power in three sports. A former distance runner in college, Kuczo's cross country teams won three straight conference championships from 1963-65.

His outdoor track and field teams compiled a dual-meet record of 202-33 and won seven division titles, six league crowns, one state championship and had four more state runner-up finishes in his 10 years as coach. In 1966, he was selected as the state's track coach of the year. He added six more FCIAC championships and another three state titles and one runner-up finish in indoor track. All told, he won 15 FCIAC titles, four state championships and had five state runner-up finishes in the three sports he coached.

In addition to his Connecticut Coach of the Year honor in track and field, Kuczo was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993, making him and his father only the second set of father-son CHSCA hall of famers. In 2006, Kuczo received the CHSCA's Thomas R. Monahan Honor Award, the Coaches Association's highest award to professional educators.

Kuczo was inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011.